ARLINGTON, VA, Oct. 9, 2025 ̶ Leonardo DRS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRS) announced today that it won first place in a Department of Defense counter drone competition by demonstrating an advanced electronic warfare system that can be integrated into the company’s range of proven and fielded counter-UAS (C-UAS) capabilities. This latest capability highlights the company’s leadership role as a developer and provider of proven counter-UAS and air defense systems that enhance force protection across today’s complex and dynamic battlespace.
During a demonstration event hosted by the DoD’s Joint Counter-small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO), Leonardo DRS demonstrated the cutting-edge Ring C-UxS system that employs proprietary, advanced radio frequency-based electronic warfare capabilities to detect, identify, and defeat enemy drones and autonomous systems, from air, land, or sea.
Leonardo DRS and its technology partner, Regulus, excelled in the portion of the demonstration that focused on Dismounted Detect-Identify-Track-Defeat of group 1 and 2 UAS. During the demonstration, Leonardo DRS successfully employed the system to detect, identify and defeat mock enemy drones with its radio frequency-based electronic warfare capabilities. The demonstration gave industry the chance to inform the JCO of new capabilities that are able to operate in a contested electromagnetic environment.
“We are proud to have been recognized with a first-place award in this critical JCO demonstration used to inform requirements for keeping ahead of the ever-growing small UAS threat,” said Aaron Hankins, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Systems business unit. “As an agile and experienced company in the space, we are honored to support the JCO as they identify capabilities that can be quickly integrated and deployed to defend our warfighters across the battlespace.”
The Ring system leverages radio frequency (RF) detection, unique Global Navigation Satellite Systems techniques, and RF datalink manipulation to counter both commercial and military uncrewed threats. The technology has been actively deployed across multiple platforms and operational theaters and has demonstrated exceptional effectiveness against uncrewed threats—from commercial Group 1 systems to military Group 3 platforms.
The Ring demonstration highlights Leonardo DRS’ proven capability to identify and rapidly integrate best-of-breed technologies to enhance its counter-UAS and air defense portfolio to support the critical needs of its customer. The company’s leadership in this space includes serving as prime contractor and lead systems integrator for the Mobile-Low, Slow Small Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (MLIDS) program as well as developer and provider of the integrated Mission Equipment Package for the SGT Stout Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) program. The company’s integration capability also extends across all domains to support force protection, computer networking and C5I, as well as naval power and propulsion systems.
GA-ASI and AeroVironment Complete First-Ever Air Launch of Switchblade 600 from MQ-9A UAS
Release of Smaller Loitering Munition Further Validates Large UAS as Motherships
SAN DIEGO – 10 September 2025 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and AeroVironment (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) collaborated on the air launch of a Switchblade 600 loitering munition (LM) from a GA-ASI Block 5 MQ-9A unmanned aircraft system (UAS). The flight testing took place from July 22-24 at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds Test Range. It marked the first time a Switchblade 600 has ever been launched from an unmanned aircraft.
“This cooperative effort showcased how combining different unmanned technologies could really provide value and effects to the warfighter,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “By using MQ-9A to carry the Switchblade, the MQ-9A is able to stand off farther from enemy weapons systems and increase the range of the SB600, which will provide greater access and options in contested airspace.”
After successfully integrating the SB600 with the MQ-9A, the team released two LMs: one with an inert warhead and the other with a high-explosive round. After launch, the team transferred control of the Switchblade from a user in the MQ-9A’s ground control station to a user on the ground nearer the operational area.
The test further validated GA-ASI’s ability to integrate and operate a variety of airborne launched effects on the battlefield – including both those built by GA-ASI and by partners such as AV – and how their use in conflict provides risk-tolerant options to commanders in contested operations.
Leonardo DRS Launches New AI-Enabled Rugged Smart Displays
New Product Line Expands Company’s Advanced Tactical Computing Portfolio
From Leonardo DRS
ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 8, 2025 ̶ Leonardo DRS, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRS) announced today the launch of its new product line of high-performance AI-enabled Ground Vehicle Architecture Smart Display systems called Rugged Smart Displays – Ground (RSD-G). The next-generation, tactical computing systems are designed to set a new standard for ruggedness, performance, and connectivity over existing tactical smart display systems used in ground combat vehicles.
The new modular RSD-G systems bring the latest in advanced combat smart display technology. By integrating Intel Core™ i7 extended temperature processors with embedded AI capability, users have significant advantages in performance, autonomy, and responsiveness on the battlefield. The displays combine advanced computing technology with high-resolution, multi-function displays in four sizes, enabling military customers to modernize with common computing architecture across platforms.
At the heart of the RSD-G family is the embedded powerful AI capability designed to quickly analyze data from various vehicle-based sensors (cameras, radar, thermal imaging, and more), and combine it into a single comprehensive view for operators. By quickly providing reliable real-time situational awareness, users are able to make faster and more informed decisions during stressful combat scenarios.
“We are excited to launch this cutting-edge family of rugged smart displays designed to provide our military and allied forces with a decisive advantage in today’s complex battlespace,” said Denny Crumley, senior vice president and general manager of the Leonardo DRS Land Electronics business unit. “And by meeting the growing demand for AI-enabled, modular architectures for ground combat vehicles with this capability, we have proudly reinforced our position as industry leader in mission computing technology.”
Network computing and integration is a key strategic focus for Leonardo DRS as it continues to be the leading provider of advanced C5I technologies with the U.S. military, the U.K. Ministry of Defense, and allied militaries around the world. These capabilities are enabling increased data and communications needed for situational awareness in multi-domain battlefield operations. The company is investing in the future of C5 through the development of next-generation battle management systems, AI processing solutions and advanced C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards/ Sensor Open System Architecture aligned mounted systems – all aimed at enabling future network and platform processing to improve sensor fusion, situational awareness, and reduce the cognitive burden for commanders and crews.
Crowley-managed CS Anthem Joins Tanker Security Program
From Crowley, Aug. 28, 2025
Through the program, CS Anthem and its crew will support MARAD’s mission to ensure fuel transport readiness for the U.S. Department of Defense, while advancing the nation’s strategic sealift capabilities.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Crowley Stena Marine Solutions, the joint venture between Crowley and Stena Bulk, has received approval from the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) to operate the CS Anthem tanker under the Tanker Security Program.
The addition of the CS Anthem demonstrates our commitment to strengthening U.S. maritime security and providing reliable, U.S.-crewed tanker capacity in support of national defense.
The CS Anthem, a U.S.-flagged, 49,990-metric-ton, medium-range tanker, is crewed and managed by Crowley under a bareboat charter through the joint venture. The vessel joins Crowley-managed tankers Stena Imperative and Stena Impeccable in the Tanker Security Program, replacing the Stena Immaculate.
Through the program, CS Anthem and its crew will support MARAD’s mission to ensure fuel transport readiness for the U.S. Department of Defense, while advancing the nation’s strategic sealift capabilities.
“The addition of the CS Anthem demonstrates our commitment to strengthening U.S. maritime security and providing reliable, U.S.-crewed tanker capacity in support of national defense,” said Tucker Gilliam, vice president of fleet operations for Crowley Shipping. “Together with Stena Bulk, we are proud to continue advancing solutions that serve both commercial and government energy transportation needs.”
The Crowley Stena Marine Solutions joint venture combines Crowley’s leadership in U.S. flag operations and mariner crewing with Stena Bulk’s global tanker expertise, delivering agile, reliable and secure solutions for government and commercial customers.
Sparton selected by Australia, Canada and India for maritime defense technologies
Multiple contract awards to exceed $34 million, equipping allies with sophisticated Undersea Warfare and Anti-Submarine Warfare solutions
DELEON SPRINGS, FLORIDA– Aug. 18, 2025 – Sparton DeLeon Springs, LLC (Sparton) was recently awarded multiple firm-fixed-price contracts to supply electro-acoustic devices and various models of sonobuoys to the Australian Department of Defence, the Canadian Department of National Defence, and the Indian Ministry of Defence. The combined value of these contracts exceeds $34 million. All work to support these contracts will be performed at Sparton’s facility in DeLeon Springs, Florida.
“Sparton is the global leader in designing, developing and producing complex underwater systems that are used to locate submarines,” said Sparton President and CEO Donnelly Bohan. “Securing contracts from multiple allied nations demonstrates the superiority of our solutions and their globally recognized utility in Anti-Submarine Warfare and Undersea Warfare efforts.”
Saronic Unveils Echelon: A Unified Platform for Autonomous Surface Vessels
Release From Saronic
Austin, Texas, July 30, 2025 — Saronic Technologies today unveiled Echelon, a unified platform that enables advanced mission planning, high-fidelity simulation, and real-time command-and-control (C2) for its growing fleet of Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs). Built to enable scalable, distributed operations, Echelon allows a single operator to plan, simulate, and execute complex missions across multiple autonomous assets—using a single interface.
As maritime environments become increasingly contested and operationally complex, both defense and commercial users require intuitive solutions to deploy, manage, and dynamically task autonomous systems at scale. Success in these domains hinges on advanced mission planning, scalable C2, and the ability to operate reliably with or without continuous connectivity. Echelon aims to deliver on this need by combining mission planning, simulation, and execution capabilities into one system, accelerating deployment timelines and reducing cognitive load for operators.
With Echelon, operators are provided with an intuitive interface for rapidly designing and testing missions in a high-fidelity simulation environment. Enabled by Saronic’s deep instrumentation across the hardware and software stack, this simulation layer delivers full visibility into vessel autonomy, providing insight into the vessel’s performance capabilities prior to deployment. Once validated in simulation, the mission is easily deployed to the designated ASV(s). Mission observation and real-time control are available as needed, though Saronic ASVs are uniquely capable of operating independently without persistent communications, a critical requirement for denied or degraded environments.
During operation, Echelon prioritizes the safety, reliability, and effective control of Saronic ASVs. The platform combines ultra-low-latency video streaming with intelligent, autonomy-aware alerts generated from the vessels’ onboard sensors and mission telemetry. By surfacing only the most relevant data, from subsystem telemetry to autonomy behaviors, Echelon helps operators stay focused, informed, and ready to make high-impact decisions in real-time.
“Echelon is aligned with Saronic’s core belief that a vertically integrated system across both software and hardware will best enable our end users to achieve their mission objectives,” said Vibhav Altekar, Co-Founder and CTO at Saronic. “While our vessels remain compatible with third-party C2 systems, Echelon was purpose-built to unlock the full potential of Saronic’s autonomy stack and deliver an intuitive mission-ready capability to our customers.”
Saronic continues to push the boundaries of distributed autonomy with Echelon. The unified platform represents a critical step forward in Saronic’s mission to enable one-to-many operations, where a single operator can command and control a heterogeneous fleet of ASVs—reliably, safely, and at scale.
Bell to Build X-Plane for Phase 2 of DARPA Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane Program
From Bell Textron Inc., July 9, 2025
Bell awarded funding for X-plane build phase of SPRINT program
Fort Worth, TX (July 9, 2024) — Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, has been down-selected for Phase 2 of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) X-Plane program with the objective to complete design, construction, ground testing and certification of an X-plane demonstrator.
“Bell is honored to have been selected for the next phase of DARPA’s SPRINT program and is excited to demonstrate a brand-new aircraft with the first-ever stop/fold technology,” said Jason Hurst, executive vice president, Engineering. “This is an achievement we’ve been working towards for over 10 years, as we’ve leveraged our nearly 90-year history of X-plane development to bring new technology to our warfighters.”
The goal of the program is to provide these aircraft with the ability to cruise at speeds from 400 to 450 knots at relevant altitudes and hover in austere environments from unprepared surfaces. In Phase 1A and 1B, Bell completed conceptual and preliminary design efforts for the SPRINT X-plane. Phase 2 includes detailed design and build culminating in flight test during Phase 3.
In preparation for X-plane development, Bell has completed significant risk reduction activities including demonstrating folding rotor, integrated propulsion, and flight control technologies at Holloman Air Force Base as well as wind tunnel testing at the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University. Bell has a rich history of breaking barriers and high-speed vertical lift technology development, pioneering innovative VTOL configurations like the X-14, X-22, XV-3 and XV-15 for NASA, the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, and continues to build on the legacy of the Bell X-1.
Lockheed Martin Delivers AN/SPY-7(V)1 Radar Antennas to Japan
MOORESTOWN, N.J. July 7, 2025 – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), successfully delivered the first Aegis System Equipped Vessel (ASEV) shipset comprised of four AN/SPY-7(V)1 radar antennas to the Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD). The delivery was facilitated through Mitsubishi Corporation under a Direct Commercial Sale arrangement after rigorous acceptance testing.
“The successful on-time delivery of all antennas for the first ASEV showcases the maturity and scalability of the SPY-7 radar as well as production capacity, while also demonstrating Lockheed Martin’s dedication and expertise in system integration,” said Chandra Marshall, vice president of Multi-Domain Combat Solutions at Lockheed Martin.
The JMOD is acquiring two ASEVs, and both are on track for commissioning in Japan Fiscal Year 2027 and 2028. Marshall continued, “We will continue full system integration and testing with all four antennas at the Production Test Center in Moorestown, New Jersey this year, prior to equipment delivery to Japan, which will significantly reduce integration risk and enable commissioning on schedule.”
The SPY-7 Advantage
With advanced detection and tracking capabilities, SPY-7 effectively counters complex threats, enabling simultaneous engagement of multiple targets and delivering a robust 21st century security capability that enhances the effectiveness of naval forces in an increasingly uncertain and dynamic environment.
In addition to Japan’s ASEVs, the SPY-7 radar is also being produced for Canada’s River-Class Destroyers, Spain’s F-110 Frigates, and the land-based version has been deployed by the Missile Defense Agency for the Guam Defense System (TPY-6) and the Long-Range Discrimination Radar. The selection of Lockheed Martin’s solid-state radar by both the U.S. and multiple international allies demonstrates the world-class capability and maturity of the radar. In December 2024, Lockheed Martin’s land-based version of the SPY-7 radar, known as TPY-6, successfully intercepted a mid-range ballistic missile as part of the Aegis Guam System during a flight experiment Flight Experiment Mission-02.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark–Saildrone, the global leader in maritime autonomy, has successfully concluded its participation in NATO Task Force X’s multi-domain demonstration in the Baltic Sea—a landmark deployment showcasing the capability, reliability, and international utility of its Saildrone Voyager uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs).
From June 16 to 27, 2025, four Saildrone Voyagers operated in both the Gulf of Finland and the western Baltic Sea as part of NATO’s innovative Task Force X Baltic initiative. Led by NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT), in coordination with NATO Maritime Command (MARCOM) and the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE), the demonstration aimed to integrate uncrewed systems into active Allied maritime operations.
“We are honored to have participated in the NATO Task Force X Baltic Initiative. After eight years of operating Saildrone USVs in the Bering Sea, we are well placed to deal with the conditions in the Baltic Sea, which has very similar latitude, water depths, and sea conditions,” said Saildrone founder and CEO Richard Jenkins. “Task Force X Baltic has been fantastic to work with, and we look forward to future missions with NATO partners.”
Throughout the operation, the Saildrone Voyagers maintained a 100% persistent presence on station, delivering 24/7 wide-area surveillance and real-time maritime domain awareness, including continued operations during recent passage of near-gale to gale-force winds and rough seas with waves over 2 meters (6.5 feet) through the area of operation. Saildrone detected and tracked hundreds of vessels daily, and successfully identified the exercises’ “red forces.” Additionally, Saildrone identified real-world dark targets in the area, including Russian “shadow fleet” and military vessels.
Another important success of the deployment was pairing Saildrone’s long-range radar and persistent surveillance capability with high-speed unmanned maritime assets. The Voyagers’ ability to detect contacts of interest at extended range enabled rapid-response investigations by fast-moving uncrewed vessels, demonstrating a layered, autonomous force structure capable of responding to dynamic maritime scenarios in real time.
The four Voyager USVs were deployed from Køge, Denmark, earlier this month. Saildrone operates on a contractor-owned and operated model, meaning it provides end-to-end mission operations and data delivery as a service. This approach enables rapid deployment, scalability, and reduced burden on government or commercial partners.
Saildrone data is integrated into the customer’s common operating picture (COP) and is also available via the Saildrone Mission Portal. Saildrone’s global pilot team worked closely with NATO Maritime Command, delivering responsive, dynamic high-volume tasking to meet the operational objectives of the exercise.
The Baltic Sea demonstration forms part of NATO’s Dynamic Messenger innovation pathway. Task Force X Baltic continues to advance NATO’s ability to rapidly integrate commercial-off-the-shelf autonomous systems, increasing scalability while preserving high-value crewed assets for critical missions.
Saildrone’s impressive performance in the Baltic Sea further validates the Voyager USV platform’s primacy in defense and security applications, even in the harshest of conditions.
Securing the Backbone: The Defense Industrial Base
PHOTO BY: Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco Gomez
By Ryan Caughill, President, Western New York Council, Navy League of the United States.
“You can’t fight tomorrow’s war with yesterday’s plans.”
In the summer of 2018, I completed my internship at Moog Inc., one of the United States’ premier defense contractors. My role was in Environmental Health & Safety, but my mission went deeper: I was tasked with modernizing and guiding emergency management planning across an organization that was deeply integrated into the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), and yet, lacked a dedicated emergency management function.
Like my time later at M&T Bank, this experience left a lasting impression. It showed me that even companies at the forefront of defense technology can have blind spots when it comes to continuity, resilience, and crisis preparedness.
[While this article isn’t just about my singular experience, but a holistic and general overview,] that’s what makes the Defense Industrial Base one of the most paradoxical critical infrastructure sectors in America: incredibly advanced, but dangerously lacking.
The Backbone Behind the Uniform The Defense Industrial Base is more than just tanks, missiles, or aircraft. It’s an expansive network of over 100,000 private companies that provide products, services, logistics, and technologies to support the U.S. military.
This includes:
Weapons systems and munitions
Aerospace components and military-grade software
Advanced electronics and cyber capabilities
Research and development institutions
Transportation and supply chain networks
Small manufacturers producing critical, often irreplaceable, parts
Some of these are Fortune 500 giants. Many are small, family-owned machine shops in rural communities. All are vital.
But here’s the problem: there is no unified resilience standard across the DIB. And that’s a problem hiding in plain sight.
The Vulnerabilities No One Wants to Talk About During my time at Moog, I saw firsthand how emergency management often sits outside the core of DIB corporate culture. Not out of apathy, but due to the sheer scale and complexity of operations. Many companies have excellent safety and security programs, but few have comprehensive crisis management systems. Fewer still have trained emergency managers or business continuity professionals guiding cross-functional coordination across cyber, physical, and operational risks. This isn’t to say they don’t exist, I’ve met some, and they do a really great job.
That makes this sector vulnerable in ways most people don’t understand.
The DIB is:
Extremely decentralized: A single failed supplier can halt delivery of critical weapons platforms.
Highly classified: Cyber breaches can compromise national defense secrets, yet many companies, especially smaller ones, lack mature cyber defenses.
Logistically fragile: Long-lead items, global supply chains, and just-in-time manufacturing leave little room for error.
Resource-limited: Many smaller firms simply don’t have the bandwidth or expertise to build robust resilience programs.
Worse yet, we take it for granted that these companies – because of what they do – are already hardened. That’s not always true.
Why This Sector Isn’t Taken Seriously — Until It’s Too Late The Defense Industrial Base occupies an odd place in the national consciousness. We respect the military. We fund the military. But we rarely consider who makes the military work.
The supply chains, R&D labs, fabrication shops, and logistics hubs that build and sustain America’s warfighting capability are not invincible. And yet, the DIB isn’t regularly treated like critical infrastructure in the traditional emergency management sense , even though it underpins our strategic deterrence, military readiness, and wartime surge capacity.
That disconnect has consequences. If a natural disaster, ransomware attack, insider threat, or geopolitical disruption strikes a key node in this ecosystem, the effects won’t be immediate headlines. They’ll show up months or years later when a military platform is delayed or compromised.
In an age of strategic competition with China and resurgent threats in Europe and the Middle East, that delay could mean the difference between deterrence and disaster.
Strengthening the Arsenal of the Republic If we want the DIB to remain viable, competitive, and secure, we must elevate resilience as a strategic imperative, not an afterthought.
At the Federal Level:
The DoD must go beyond cybersecurity compliance and require holistic emergency management, business continuity, and crisis communications programs for Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors
Congress should fund regional DIB resilience initiatives and technical assistance hubs to help small firms build preparedness capacity
DIB firms must be integrated into DHS-FEMA and CISA exercises, not treated as isolated contractors
In the Private Sector:
Contractors should invest in full-time emergency managers or resilience officers, especially at multi-site operations Continuity of Operations plans (COOP) must be tested regularly and integrated across functions – especially cyber, facilities, HR, and production Leadership should prioritize exercises and scenario planning, particularly for cyber-physical convergence threats
Across the Supply Chain:
Vendors must be mapped and tiered by criticality, with redundancy plans in place for sole-source dependencies. Smaller manufacturers should be given access to resilience toolkits and grant-supported planning assistance.
For the Defense Community:
Collaboration must improve across DoD, DHS, and the intelligence community to identify emerging threats to the DIB Emergency management professionals should be embedded, or a partner, in acquisition planning and supplier vetting The public and political class must recognize that defense readiness includes domestic resilience
Resilience is Readiness The Defense Industrial Base is one of the quietest, but most consequential, sectors in the nation’s infrastructure portfolio. You don’t see it in parades. But it’s there in every missile defense test, every jet engine, every encrypted radio, and every armored vehicle.
If we allow it to weaken, structurally, logistically, or digitally, we erode not just our defense capability, but our credibility.
We cannot afford to wait for crisis to realize that the arsenal of our Republic isn’t just built on innovation or budgets.
It’s built on resilience.
These challenges aren’t theoretical, they’re unfolding in real time. Delays in the F-35 rollout, the Navy’s struggles and eventual cancellation with the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, and schedule slippages in the next-generation aircraft carriers, guided missile frigates, and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines all point to a sector under immense strain. While these issues stem from a mix of design complexity, funding cycles, and industrial bottlenecks, one thing is clear: the Defense Industrial Base cannot afford additional disruption.
A well-funded, well-placed crisis management function, integrated at both the facility and enterprise level, won’t solve design flaws or procurement hurdles, but it can absorb shock, accelerate recovery, and ensure continuity when disaster strikes. In a sector already grappling with compounding risks, crisis management isn’t a luxury, it’s a strategic buffer against the unpredictable threats of 21st century warfare.
